ARC Late Starters make safe landfall in the Caribbean

On 23 December, S/Y CARIOCA put in to Martinique and then, early on Christmas morning, TRIMLEY MAID safely made landfall in St Lucia; the final yacht of ARC 2017 to finish their Atlantic Crossing. A warm welcome was provided to TRIMLEY MAID's double-handed team of Grant and Gabriel by crews of other ARC yachts including Mad Monkey, Geronimo and other yachties.

Trimley Maid's achievement marks the end of a particularly long passage; one beset at the beginning by a number of rigging and other technical problems. Nevertheless, Grant and Gabriel will have been spurred on by the news that, whilst they were still at sea, Trimley Maid - a 37' Hillyard - had been voted by the other ARC participants as the most beautiful yacht in the ARC fleet. It just goes to show that, whilst older yachts may be slower than some of their modern counterparts, they still have some enduring qualities that set them apart.